| Candy Bar, Soho | |
|---|---|
 The exterior of Candy Bar in 2013 | |
| Coordinates | 51°30′53.64″N 0°8′0.96″W / 51.5149000°N 0.1336000°W |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Owner | Kim Lucas |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | 4, CARLISLE STREET W1 |
| Designated | 23-Nov-1978 |
| Reference no. | 1066346 |
Candy Bar was a lesbian bar that was based in Carlisle Street in Soho, London.[1] It was started in 1996 by Kim Lucas who decorated the interior pink and provided lap and pole dancing.[2][3] Men were allowed into the bar if accompanied by a woman.[4]
In 2011, the bar was sold by Lucas to Gary Henshaw, owner of the Ku chain of London gay bars. New management brought in by Henshaw toned down the bright pink decoration.[3] The bar was featured in a Channel 5 six-part fly-on-the-wall documentary series named Candy Bar Girls.[5]
The bar closed in January 2014 following an increase in rents.[6]
- ^ Historic England. "4, CARLISLE STREET W1 (1066346)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ "Candy Bar". Time Out.
- ^ a b Margolis, Eleanor (27 October 2013). "Lesbians mourn as Soho's Candy Bar announces it will close". The Guardian.
- ^ Claire Gervat; Francesca Gavin (2006). Night + Day London. ASDavis Media Group. p. 112. ISBN 978-0-9766013-7-1.
- ^ "New reality TV show on Soho lesbian bar". Pink News. 10 February 2011.
- ^ Roberts, Scott (21 October 2013). "London: Lesbian hangout Candy Bar to close". Pink News.